Orioles (26-18) vs. Houston Astros (19-28)
Where: Minute Maid Park
First pitch: 8:10 p.m.
TV/Radio: MASN2/105.7 The Fan
Starting pitchers: Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman (0-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Astros RHP Lance McCullers (0-1, 5.91 ERA)
What to watch
1. Four's a crowd. The Orioles look to avoid being swept for the first time this season, and will also be hoping to end their first four-game losing streak of the season. They have now lost three in a row twice, and this time have been done in by three straight rare defeats to losing clubs. Will they leave Houston with a win?
2. Gausman night. After allowing seven runs in 11 innings over his previous two starts, Kevin Gausman responded with one of his best starts of the season: one earned run in 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and one walk. That lowered the 25-year-old right-hander's ERA to 2.70, but he still has yet to earn a victory this season. Can Gausman finally find the win column?
3. Back-to-back and back-to-back-to-back. Hyun Soo Kim went 3-for-3 with two doubles Wednesday to raise his average to .438, so manager Buck Showalter is sticking with him today. Kim is back in the lineup for the second straight day, marking the first back-to-back starts of his career. Matt Wieters is also back at catcher for a third straight day, marking the first time he has caught that many days in a row since returning from Tommy John elbow reconstruction last season. Could Kim starting and Wieters in the field be closer to the new norm for the Orioles?
Orioles lineup
RF Joey Rickard
SS Manny Machado
1B Chris Davis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
DH Mark Trumbo
2B Jonathan Schoop
LF Hyun Soo Kim
3B Paul Janish